vernacular

Vernacular is common language spoken by average citizens of a particular place, or is language used within a particular field or industry.

(noun)

  1. An example of vernacular is English in the US.
  2. An example of vernacular is medical terms used by doctors.

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See vernacular in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. using the native language of a country or place: a vernacular writer
  2. commonly spoken by the people of a particular country or place: a vernacular, as distinguished from the literary, dialect
  3. of or in the native language
  4. native to a country or region: the vernacular arts of Brittany
  5. designating or of the common name of an animal or plant, as distinguished from the scientific name in Modern Latin taxonomic classification

Origin: < L vernaculus, belonging to home-born slaves, indigenous < verna, a native slave, prob. < Etr *versna, hearth < verse, fire

noun

  1. the native language or dialect of a country or place
  2. the common, everyday language of ordinary people in a particular locality
  3. the shoptalk or idiom of a profession or trade
    1. a vernacular word or term
    2. the vernacular name of an animal or plant

Related Forms:

See vernacular in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The standard native language of a country or locality.
  2. a. The everyday language spoken by a people as distinguished from the literary language. See Synonyms at dialect.
    b. A variety of such everyday language specific to a social group or region: the vernaculars of New York City.
  3. The idiom of a particular trade or profession: in the legal vernacular.
  4. An idiomatic word, phrase, or expression.
  5. The common, nonscientific name of a plant or animal.
adjective
  1. Native to or commonly spoken by the members of a particular country or region.
  2. Using the native language of a region, especially as distinct from the literary language: a vernacular poet.
  3. Relating to or expressed in the native language or dialect.
  4. Of or being an indigenous building style using local materials and traditional methods of construction and ornament, especially as distinguished from academic or historical architectural styles.
  5. Occurring or existing in a particular locality; endemic: a vernacular disease.
  6. Relating to or designating the common, nonscientific name of a plant or animal.

Origin:

Origin: From Latin vernāculus, native

Origin: , from verna, native slave

Origin: , perhaps of Etruscan origin

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Related Forms:

  • ver·nacˈu·lar·ly adverb

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